Event organiser’s toolkit

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The International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December every year and celebrated around the world through activities large and small.

This year, the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has asked Nican to take a coordination role in the community for the Day.  This website includes information resources to help plan events and awareness raising activities, whether for a school, business, government agency or a community organisation.  For a more detailed kit with additional detailed information and ideas, or to order promotional products available free for use to publicise your event, you may like to contact the IDPwD team at Nican on 1800 440 385 or email idpwd@nican.com.au

Register your event

The easiest way to register is to complete the event registration form on this website.  You can also register an event by calling the IDPwD team tollfree on 1800 440 385 or email idpwd@nican.com.au

You might also want to contact the IDPwD team if you’d like ideas for events or are unsure how to go about holding the event you want to organise.

A detailed Event Registration Toolkit is available on request from the IDPwD team.  The toolkit is full of ideas, checklists for event organisers about logistics and for creating accessible events as well as tips on how to write invitations and get the media interested on request.

The IDPWD Logo

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Ideas for events

Events can be big or small. Here are some ideas but don’t forget to register your event:

Schools

  • Do a research project about: famous people with a disability in history; different types of disabilities; a timeline on the development of rights; or how people with disabilities live in other countries or in the past?
  • Undertake a school challenge to identify and remove some barriers in your classroom, canteen or school environment.  Some of these can be small – like removing obstacles from a hallway or making things lower so a person with a mobility disability can reach them.
  • Find out more about an organisations providing services and support for people with a disability and undertake a funding drive for them or identify a volunteer service opportunity.
  • Arts and crafts like Mouth/Foot Painting; painting blindfolded; kite making; design an awareness poster; drawing, colouring, story competition or a Role Play (imagine you have a disability and write about it).
  • Invite a person with a disability to talk about the day and living with a disability; put up posters or decorate your classroom with balloons or have a poetry competition.

Sports

  • Host a ‘come and try’ day with different sports played by people with and without disability such as Blind cricket, Boccia, Sitting Volleyball; Wheelchair Basketball; Goalball; Treasure hunt relay (in a wheelchair); or Wheelchair dancing.

Community

  • Host a party or make a day of it through: a day in the park/at the beach; bands; kids entertainment (clowns, face painting, jumping castle, mobile petting zoo); sausage sizzle or a picnic; art competitions/displays/exhibitions; sporting activities and games.

Corporate

  • Commit to creating a Disability Action Plan (see the Australian Government’s Disability Action Plan – Framework for business) or unveil your plan on IDPwD.
  • Have a working bee and remove obstacles which might create barriers for people with disability as employees, visitors or customers in your organisations.
  • Make a commitment to purchasing quality products from an Australian Disability Enterprise (check out the Australian Disability Enterprise website).
  • Increase your disability confidence by providing manager resources like the Managers’ Guide: Disability in the Workplace, or Opportunity – produced by the Australian Network on Disability.
  • Host a come and try day where you take steps to ensure that your venue, club or organisation is welcoming and disability confident.
  • Signal your commitment through an event such as a business breakfast or brunch; luncheon; or dinner or simply wear a lapel ribbon, take a photo of it and post it on our Facebook wall.
  • Consider an all staff meeting or morning tea featuring a Disability Community Leader (contact the IDPwD team at Nican on 1800 440 385 or idpwd@nican.com.au).
  • Change your screen saver or company Facebook profile to reflect that 3 December is the International Day of People with Disability.
  • Put the IDPwD logo and Breaking Down the Barriers messaging on your payslips, flyers, internal memos and other corporate material.

Media release template

[Your organisations name and title of event]

Released [date]

Millions of people throughout the world will be celebrating this year’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and [insert name] will be joining celebrations with [insert the nature of your event or photo opportunity - who, what, where and when].

In 1992 the United Nations General Assembly declared 3 December as a day to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of people with disability and this year the International Day of People with Disability is being funded by the Australian Government and supported by Nican.

A range of prominent Australians and disability community leaders have lined up to support the day, including Australian of the Year Simon McKeon.

[Insert professional title of spokesperson, name of organisation and the spokesperson's name] says that the day is not only an opportunity to celebrate the ability of people with disability but also to increase awareness of disability issues in the community and break down the barriers.

“The biggest barrier that people with disability face can be the attitude of other people.  Getting involved in International Day of People with Disability is a chance to challenge myths, improve awareness and take positive action to change attitudes.  Small changes can sometimes make a big difference on the ground. The Day is an opportunity to break down those barriers and challenge people’s perceptions of disability.”

“Disability does not mean inability, and by publicly celebrating International Day of People with Disability [local group] is making a positive contribution to the lives of approximately one in five Australians with disability” [inserts name of spokesperson] said.

[Make sure you have permission to quote the spokesperson and make sure you register your event].

[Insert a snappy paragraph on your organisation's event or activity - what is happening, will any celebrities or politicians be there, will the day have a highlight? Try to use a celebrity as a spokesperson - big names are more likely to attract media attention].

For further information, please contact:

[Insert name of media contact or spokesperson, and organisation contact details, including mobile phone]

Photo Opportunity: [Insert information about photo opportunities here]

Send a copy of your media release to the IDPwD team at Nican.  We can also help you market your event and shape your release to good effect.  Register your event on www.idpwd.com.au so that we can provide you will materials and support and direct media to your event.

Article template

[Name of your group] will be holding an event on [date] December 2011 from 10.30am at Carers ACT in [address]. This event is part of celebrations to recognise the UN International Day of People with Disability which is being celebrated through events around the country and the world. The Day is a way of highlighting the achievements, skills and abilities of people with disabilities as well as encouraging the community to improve community attitudes and break down the barriers faced by people with a Disability.

Our event will feature [include details about the main attractions/guest speakers] and is open to the public [or give RSVP details including a date and contacts].